Why Marco Island Voters Should Approve the Transportation Bond

August 8 through August 15 starts early voting for this year’s election, with the actual primary day on August 18, 2026.

Marco Island voters will decide whether to authorize up to $23 million in General Obligation Bonds for critical transportation and mobility improvements, including bridge replacements and roadway projects. The bonds could be issued in one or more series and repaid through property taxes over a period of up to 20 years. This referendum deserves overwhelming public support. City Resolution 26-21.

For eight consecutive years, the city has adopted a rollback millage rate. Although this has helped limit property tax increases, it has also prevented the City from fully benefiting from the growth in property values. Each rollback becomes part of the following year’s lower tax base, creating a cumulative effect that restricts the City’s long-term ability to fund infrastructure.

During those same eight years, the cost of nearly everything required to operate and protect our community has increased: construction materials, labor, fuel, insurance, emergency equipment, public-safety salaries, stormwater improvements and road maintenance. A rollback rate does not roll back these expenses. It simply requires the city to provide more services with proportionately fewer resources.

Marco Island’s FY 2025–26 budget confirms that the city maintained the rollback rate for eight years while continuing to provide services and complete major projects. That record reflects responsible management, but it should not be interpreted to mean that the practice can continue indefinitely without consequences.

Transportation infrastructure is not optional. Bridges, streets, sidewalks and bicycle routes are essential public-safety assets. They are used every day by residents, employees, visitors, police officers, firefighters, ambulances and evacuation traffic. Postponing necessary repairs does not eliminate their cost. It generally increases it, while allowing conditions to deteriorate and safety risks to grow.

The bond provides a responsible way to make long-term investments without draining the City’s available reserves or attempting to pay for major projects out of a single annual budget. Because bridges and roads serve the community for decades, spreading their cost over time allows both current and future property owners—the people who will benefit from the improvements—to share in paying for them.

Most importantly, the bond would help protect the City’s financial capacity to respond to the unexpected.

Marco Island is a barrier-island community exposed to hurricanes, storm surge, flooding and other emergencies. A major storm can create enormous immediate expenses for debris removal, emergency operations, temporary repairs, public-safety overtime and infrastructure restoration. Federal and state reimbursements may eventually be available, but cities often must spend their own money first and then wait months or even years for repayment.

The City’s budget states that Marco Island maintains emergency reserves so it can respond to and recover from a major hurricane. Those reserves should remain available for true emergencies—not be depleted to pay for transportation projects that can be planned and financed responsibly.

The bond itself is not an unrestricted emergency fund; its proceeds must be used for the transportation purposes approved by voters. Its safety-net value is indirect but extremely important: financing these projects separately protects general governmental resources and reduces pressure on reserves. That leaves the city in a stronger position when the next hurricane, economic downturn, infrastructure failure or other unforeseen catastrophe occurs.

Approving the bond would:

• Address essential bridge and roadway needs before they become more dangerous and expensive.
• Protect residents, pedestrians, bicyclists and emergency responders.
• Spread the cost of long-lived improvements fairly over time.
• Avoid placing the entire burden on one year’s taxpayers.
• Preserve emergency reserves and financial flexibility.
• Strengthen the City’s ability to recover from a major disaster.
• Protect property values and Marco Island’s quality of life.

Residents will ask “How much is this going to cost me?”  Think of Bond as a Home Equity Line of Credit.  Except for a small fee to establish the Credit Line (Bond), there is no charge until the money is used. Presently, there is a proposal on the fall ballot, championed by Governor DeSantis, to increase “homestead exemptions.” If this ballot proposal passes, there will be insufficient funds for municipalities to pay for infrastructure maintenance and repairs. The Bond referendum, as proposed by the city, would THEN be vitally important to maintain and repair our transport infrastructure. If the Homestead Exemption does not pass, then the Bonds would not be necessary at this time. HOWEVER, by voting for approval of the Bond Referendum, we the citizens and the city will have a RESOURCE to access in case it is a need in the unknown future.

After eight consecutive years of rollback millage rates, Marco Island has reached a point where continued restraint must be balanced with responsible investment. We cannot repeatedly reduce the city’s revenue capacity, postpone necessary capital projects and still expect to remain fully prepared for the next emergency.

A “yes” vote is not simply a vote for pavement and bridges. It is a vote for public safety, responsible financial planning and community resilience. It is also an investment in preserving Marco Island’s emergency resources for the moment when our residents may need them most.

On August 18, Marco Island voters should overwhelmingly vote YES—For Bonds.

Dr. Jerry Swiacki has been a full-time resident of Marco Island since 2007. Retired General Surgeon.  Previous Chairman for Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Past President Marco Island Civic Association. Former President of the Marco Men's Club.  Presently on the Boards of the Marco Island Fire Foundation, NCH Marco Island Advisory Committee, Marco Island Nature Preserve, and member of the Marco Island Christmas Home Decorating Committee.